Collagen is the major component of scar tissue. Considerable progress of fibroblast growth kinetics and of collagen synthesis has been achieved in the past decade. We have been interested in fibroblasts activities as they are expressed by cells cultured in collagen substrate. This study is to examine the effects of collagen substrate and peptide growth factors In culture medium on DNA and protein synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts. Collagen, interleukin-1(IL-1) and transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) were added to fibroblast culture media according to the designed experiment model and DNA and protein synthesis were measured by [3H]-thymidine, [3H]-leucine, and [3H]-proline incorporation method. The morphological features of fibroblasts were observed by light microscope. The results were as follows ; 1) There were significant decreases of DNA and protein synthesis of cultured fibroblasts in the presence of collagen substrate compared with those in Control groups(p<0.01). 2) DNA and protein synthesis were decreased as dose dependant manner of collagen density in culture media. 3) Morphological features of fibroblasts became less stellate and flat, more spindle-like in the presence of collagen. 4) In responsiveness to IL-1, collagen non-treated groups responded to IL-1 but collagen treated groups were unresponsive to IL-1 (P<0.05). 5) Cells In collagen non-treated groups responded to TGF-beta as dose-related manner(P<0.01). Collagen treated groups desponded to TGF-beta but did not show TGF-beta dose-dependant relationship. In Conclusion, collagen substrate in the culture medium could lower the DNA and protein synthesis of fibroblasts. Cells in collagen substrate were unresponsive or less responsive to peptide growth factors than those in non-collagen substrate.
Cicatrix ; Collagen* ; Culture Media ; DNA* ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Interleukin-1 ; Kinetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

This retrospective clinical study consists of 27 patients with lacrimal canalicular injury caused by various accidents and which were reconstructed with various materials in the department of plastic surgery at Catholic University Medical College from December 1987 to July 1996. These 27 patients were followed up at least 6 months after the canalicular reconstruction and their medical records were reviewed and analysed retrospectively in order to obtain the clinical pattern and understand the therapeutic results. The statistical items were the age and sex distribution, the causes of injury, the prevalent site of injury, the reconstruction materials, the duration of intubation and the results of treatment. The following results are obtained: 1. Males were more dominant than females by 4.4 : 1. 2. The patient age was from 6 to 73 years old and the prevalent age groups were the third and fourth decades(55.5%). 3. The most common cause of canalicular injury was the violence(29.6%) and was followed by traffic accident. 4. The left canaliculi, especially inferior canaliculi, was the prevalent injury site. 5. Regardless of the materials(P.V.C. tube, nylon and silicone tube) used in canalicular reconstruction, the longer duration of intubation was obtained the better result of treatment. 6. So the silicone tube with stainless steel(C-line canaliculus intubation set) was relatively inert and less complicating, it could be maintained more longer and had better results than other materials such as P.V.C. tube and nylon.
Accidents, Traffic ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation ; Male ; Medical Records ; Nylons ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Distribution ; Silicones ; Surgery, Plastic

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a potentially fatal adverse reaction to neuroleptics, is known to occur more often in the initial stage of antipsychotic treatment. We describe a patient with chronic schizophrenia who, in a few days after the addition of antituberculotic drugs to his antipsychotic regimen, developed probable NMS without pyrexia. We reasoned that rifampin, a strong hepatic enzyme inducer, decreased the plasma chlorpromazine concentration of the patient, with the result of cholinergic hyperactivity and finally, the symptoms of NMS. Therefore, physicians should be aware of drug interactions and the likelihood of NMS, and consider antipsychotic dose adjustment when prescribing drugs that may influence pharmacokinetic properties of antipsychotics in a patient with schizophrenia receiving long-term antipsychotic treatment.
Adult ; Antitubercular Agents/*adverse effects ; Chlorpromazine/*adverse effects ; Creatine Kinase/blood ; Drug Interactions ; Enzyme Induction/drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome/*etiology ; Rifampin/*adverse effects ; Schizophrenia/*drug therapy

With the increasing number of air bag-equipped vehicles, there has been a corresponding increase in the incidence of air bag-associated ocular trauma. We encountered a 38 years old man who sustained corneal damage, hyphema, angle recession, medial wall fracture, and visual damage by choroidal rupture of macula due to an inflated air bag in motor vehicle accident and brief review of related literature is presented.
Adult ; Air Bags* ; Choroid ; Humans ; Hyphema ; Incidence ; Motor Vehicles ; Rupture

Metastatic lesions in temporal bones were rare in the past, however, nowadays, they seem to be increasing. The primary sites of metastases to the temporal bones are known to be the breasts, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, prostate gland, larynx, and thyroid gland. We present a case with peripheral facial paralysis as the only symptom of a metastasis to the temporal bone in a 73 year-old woman, and that peripheral facial paralysis was the first and only metastatic symptom in that case. This patient was initially diagnosed with Bell's palsy. However, based on the pathologic findings, a further study revealed an adenocarcinoma of the lungs which spread to the temporal bone. Any metastatic diseases to the temporal bone should be considered as possible etiology in patients with a clinical history of malignant neoplasms presenting with common otologic or vestibular symptoms, especially with facial nerve paralysis.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Aged ; Bell Palsy ; Breast ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Paralysis* ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Kidney ; Larynx ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paralysis ; Prostate ; Temporal Bone* ; Thyroid Gland

OBJECTIVES: The rupture of middle cerebral artery(MCA) aneurysm usually cause or is associated with higher incidence of intracerebral hemorrhages(ICH) than any other aneurysmal ruptures. Also, the outcome of patients who had ICH is known to be worse than patients who had subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) only. The authors report the bleeding pattern and outcome of ruptured MCA aneurysm patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total 106 ruptured MCA aneurysm patients who were surgically treated were included and they were divided into 2 groups by the initial brain CT findings according to the presence or absence of ICH over 10cc in amount. The clinical data were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: The overall mortality was 18.9%. Among 81 patients(76.4%) who had subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) only, 68 patients(84%) showed favorable outcome. Twenty five patients(23.6%) had ICH over 10cc in amount with or without SAH, and among them, 11 patients(44%) showed favorable outcome. The ICH was located in temporal lobe(15 patients, 60%), frontal lobe(3, 12%), sylvian fissure(6, 24%) and frontal-temporal lobe(1, 4%). Among 15 patients who had ICH in temporal lobe, only 4 patients(26.6%) showed favorable outcome and all 3 patients who had ICH in frontal lobe showed favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: ICH was presented in 23.6% of ruptured MCA aneurysm patients and the prognosis of patients with ICH was worse than patients with SAH only. The ICH was located mainly in the temporal lobe and sylvian fissure.
Aneurysm ; Brain ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Frontal Lobe ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Temporal Lobe

PURPOSE: To compare the survival rates of patients with hepatoma using different methods of transcatheter arterial chemoemblization(THAE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred and eighty three patients with hepatoma diagnosed by biopsy, serum alpha-fetoprotein, abdominal CT scan, abdominal ultrasonography or hepatic angiography were included, but not all had reccived surgical treatment. They were divided into two groups according to Child's classification and into subgroups according to different methods of THAE. Five-year survival rates among these groups were retrospectively Compared. The patients were aged between 24 and 85(mean, 58) ; male to female ratio was 324:61 for those who received THAE (396:87 when only hepatic angiography was considered). RESULTS: In the group with more than a single episode of chemoembolization, regardless of Child's classification, a better survival rate compared to the other groups with or without concommitant radiotherapy or without chemoembolization was noted. There was no difference in the survival rate of patients with multiple chemoembolization. Moreover, no difference in this rate was observed no matter what chemotherapeutic agents, including Adriamycin, Cis-Diaminedichloroplatinum or 1-131-Lipiodol, were used. Embolization by gelfoam in conjuction with Adriamycin resulted in no difference in survival rate regardless of requency of chemoembolization. CONCLUSIONS: An improved survival rate was seen when multiple episodes of chemoembolization were applied, but no difference was seen when there was concomitant application of either gelfoam or radiotherapy. Two different chemotherapeutic agents,Adriamycin and Cis-Diaminedichloroplatinum, were used, but there was no difference between them in their effect on survival rates.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Angiography ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Classification ; Female ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Humans ; Male ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: An appropriate level of sedation and pharmacological assist are essential during percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA). Ketamine provides good analgesia while preserving airway patency, ventilation, and cardiovascular stability with an opioid sparing effect suggesting that it would be ideal in combination with remifentanil and midazolam in spontaneously breathing patients. We evaluated the effect of a small dose of ketamine added to midazolam and remifentanil on analgesia/sedation for PTA procedures. METHODS: Sixty-four patients receiving PTA were enrolled. The Control group received midazolam 1.0 mg i.v. and continuous infusion of remifentanil 0.05 microg/kg/min. The Ketamine group received, in addition, an intravenous bolus of 0.5 mg/kg ketamine. Patients' haemodynamic data were monitored before remifentanil infusion, 5 min after remifentanil infusion, at 1, 3, 5, 30 min after incision, and at admission to the recovery room. Verbal numerical rating scales (VNRS) and sedation [OAA/S (Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation)] scores were also recorded. RESULTS: The VNRS values at 1, 3, and 5 min after incision and OAA/S scores at 5 min after remifentanil infusion, and 1, 3, and 5 min after incision were lower in the Ketamine group than in the Control group. In the Control group, the VNRS value at 1 min after incision significantly increased and OAA/S values at 3, 5, and 30 min after incision significantly decreased compared to baseline values, while there were no significant changes in the ketamine group. CONCLUSIONS: A small dose of ketamine as an adjunct sedative to the combination of midazolam and remifentanil produced a better quality of sedation and analgesia than without ketamine and provided stable respiration without cardiopulmonary deterioration.
Analgesia ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Humans ; Ketamine ; Midazolam ; Piperidines ; Recovery Room ; Respiration ; Ventilation ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: Unicoronal synostosis is the craniofacial anomaly caused by premature fusion of unilateral coronal suture. Ipsilateral flattening of the frontal and parietal bones, temporal retrusion with elevation and recession of the supraorbital rim are main clinical features. Compensatory contralateral frontal bossing and deviation of the nasal root and/or chin can also occur. There is a controversy about techniques for surgical correction, however, bilateral approach technique is more effective for correction of deformity. METHODS: A 4-year-old patient with unicoronal synostosis had undergone unilateral suturectomy at 28-month-old but fronto-facial deformity had remained and aggravated as she grew older. She had both fronto-facial and endocranial asymmetry. We performed coronal cranial approach and fully exposed affected cranium including supraorbital rim. Anterior 2/3 calvarial reconstruction with bilateral frontal bone osteotomy and fronto-orbital bandeau advancement was performed. RESULTS: Fronto-facial symmetry including fronto-orbital contour, nasal devation was improved. Endocranial twisting was also improved from 158degrees to 162degrees in CSO(crista galli- sella turcica-opisthion) degree. There was no postoperative complications and no need for revision, and facial asymmetry improved at the period of 2 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Bilateral approach with fronto-orbital bandeau remodeling in surgery of unicoronal synostosis looked superior to unilateral approach in achieving better symmetry and preventing recurrence of asymmetry. Remodeling surgery should be tried in patients even at an older age to correct fronto-facial asymmetry.
Chin ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Facial Asymmetry ; Frontal Bone ; Humans ; Osteotomy ; Parietal Bone ; Plagiocephaly ; Postoperative Complications ; Preschool Child ; Recurrence ; Skull ; Sutures ; Synostosis

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the radiological and clinical results to verify the efficacy of anterior interbody fusion with using cages gradually increases in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Anterior cervical decompression and fusion is well accepted treatments for cervical radiculopathy. Performing anterior interbody fusion using cages has recently gradually increased to minimize the extent of surgery. While there are numerous reports on the primary stabilizing effects of the cervical cages, little is known about the subsidence behavior of such cages in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 38 patients with cervical disc herniation who underwent anterior decompression and interbody fusion with autoiliac bone graft and plate fixation (Group I, 21 patients) or who underwent with standalone cage (Group II, 17 patients). We statistically analyzed the changes of the cervical lordosis, the segmental lordosis, the vertebral body height, the fusion rate on the plain x-ray and the clinical results with using a pain visual analogue scale. RESULTS: All the cases were fused by 11.2+/-2.7 weeks after operation. The changes of the cervical lordosis and segmental lordosis show no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.07, 0.66). The anterior and posterior vertebral heights of the fused segments of group II were more decreased than those of group I, but there was no statistically difference between the two groups (p=0.06, 0.30). The clinical results were not statistically difference between the two groups (p=0.64, 0.45). CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of autoiliac cancellous bone impacted stand-alone cages or on a tricortical iliac crest autograft after anterior decompression was safe and reliable options for the treatment of cervical disc herniation that causes single level radiculopathy. Both procedures produced equally satisfying clinical and radiological results, leading to a high fusion rate and they maintained the intervertebral height.
Animals ; Body Height ; Decompression ; Humans ; Lordosis ; Radiculopathy ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants